Aug 17 2005
Atlanta-based indoor air quality firm, Air Quality Sciences, Inc. (AQS), today announces the release of a guide to educate commercial property owners and managers on the initial steps required to begin the hurricane recovery process.
The guide, "Post Hurricane Basics: Restoring Your Property," outlines best practices for beginning the process of remediating a water damaged building. Only two months into hurricane season, five tropical storms or hurricanes have already left a trail of destruction and floodwater damaged buildings. Wind is destructive, opening buildings to water damage from land (run off), sea (storm surge) and air (rain) sources. Excessive water damage poses a significant risk to health and property.
"When commercial buildings are damaged by a natural or manmade water disaster, the restoration process can be long and complex," says Anthony Worthan, president of AQS. "The sheer size of the building, the number of players involved, and the implications for the business make the process infinitely more complex than it is for water damaged homes."
One of the most significant impacts of moisture damage is the growth of mold that can be destructive to the external and internal building materials and furnishings. Resulting mold growth can also present a health hazard to building occupants and restoration crews. Quick and appropriate measures immediately after the water damage can lessen the potential for extensive mold growth, reduce long-term health consequences for building occupants, and maintain the building's structural integrity.
Certain molds such as Stachybotrys chartarum and Aspergillus versicolor, which often result from water damage, have known human toxins associated with them, and they and many other molds are triggers for numerous respiratory illnesses including asthma and allergies. After damage has been surveyed, safety is secured, and clean up begins, it is important to ensure that these floodwaters have no long term, negative impacts on buildings and occupants. The updated guide outlines the steps and best practices to follow when initiating the clean up. The information included is based on more than 15 years of extensive experience in managing the remediation of water-damaged properties caused by natural and man-made disasters.
This guide is not intended to be a comprehensive remediation plan, but a sound foundation for assessing the situation and moving toward an effective and affordable solution.
The guide is featured on the Building Consulting page of their website at http://www.aqs.com/DesktopDefault.aspx?mid=168&tabid=82&ItemId=12.